If that is sounding familiar, it is because it had originally been flight planned back on 10-Jan-2017 except via Fairbanks. I'm not sure whether it actually departed the first time and returned, or whether it never left.

Friday, 27 January 2017

IKHANA Aircraft Services (IKHANA) announced that the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has issued Supplement Type Certificate (STC) Number SA02627LA for the modification of DHC-6 series Twin Otter aircraft with Wing Payload Hard Point structural provisions. The Hard Point provisions add structure on each wing with the capability to captive-carry external stores or payloads for purposes that include scientific/atmospheric research, search and rescue, geophysical surveys, Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), or other special missions applications. “The Wing Payload Hard Points modification provides a type certificated method for attaching scientific, military, and ISR payloads to the wings of a Twin Otter.” states Mr. John A. Zublin, President and CEO of IKHANA. “The STC approved design allows for multiple payload weight and configuration options to provide operators mission flexibility. We are very pleased to add Wing Payload Hard Points to our ever expanding catalogue of products in our continuing effort to significantly increase utility of the Twin Otter.”

IKHANA’s DHC-6 Wing Payload Hard Points STC incorporates added structure at two (2) locations per wing and is suited for payloads of up to five hundred (500) lbs (226.8 Kg) mass per wing or two hundred fifty (250) lbs (113.4 Kg) per location. Situated at wing station 229 and 266, the Hard Points can be adapted to a NATO standard store, munitions adapter units, or special purpose mounts for captive carrying of atmospheric sampling canisters, pods, searchlights, tanks, scientific instruments, or other special missions payloads. Where earlier wing provisions did not have Type Certification approval, the IKHANA Wing Payload Hard Points provide a fully Type Certified basis.

IKHANA Aircraft Services, a DBA of IKHANA Group Inc., provides DESIGN - BUILD - FLY solutions to the aerospace industry through integration of new technologies, aircraft modifications, heavy maintenance, major repair, and critical parts manufacturing. Headquartered at the French Valley Airport (F70) in Murrieta, California, IKHANA holds FAA, EASA, Transport Canada, and other foreign repair station approvals, FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA), and is a Viking Air Factory Endorsed Service Center. IKHANA has a proven reputation for developing unique engineered solutions across a wide variety of aircraft platforms and diverse customer base including extensive experience in the DHC-6 Twin Otter, King Air, and Gulfstream airframes.

The third Aurora DHC-6-400 that had been parked in Switzerland is seen below on arrival in Russia on delivery.

MSN 908 - DHC-6-400 RA-67285AuroraKrasnoyarsk 19-Jan-2017

A couple of nice contributions to include today, first being MSN 281 F-OIJL seen in Bern back on 21-Nov-2011; and secondly British Antarctic Survey's MSN 787 VP-FBC at Springbank on 17-Oct-2011. Thanks to Daniel Schicklin for the photos.

Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Russia's SKOL Airlines have confirmed they will be the operator of five of the ten DHC-6-400's delivered to RN Aircraft/Rosneft. The balance of the aircraft will, as previously known, be fellow Krasnoyarsk based operator AeroGeo. Which aircraft are operated specifically by AeroGeo or SKOL still needs to be confirmed.

SKOL Airlines is the fourth Twin Otter operator in Russia; they currently fly a varied fleet of Western and Russian built helicopters, as well as the Cessna Grand Caravan, and Yak-40.

During a ceremony held yesterday at Teniente Octavio Garrido Air Base, SENAN officially launched their new Viking Series 400 Twin Otter AN-261. The aircraft will be used for humanitarian and search/rescue operations as well as surveillance duties in support of fighting organized crime and drug trafficking. It is seen below at the ceremony.

The Twin Otter series has been in use in Panama, both with military and commercial operators for the past forty-seven years.

634 - DHC-6-300 P2-KSS Heviflit PNG, Waigani (Greystoke Leasing Inc.)
Aircraft is offered for sale or lease, with owner financing available. It has a TT of 29,513 hours, and full details can be found on the following specification sheet:

908 - DHC-6-400 RA-67285 Aurora Air Company, Vladivostok
Departed Altenrhein/Saint Gallen 12-Jan-2017, and arrived in Vladivostok 19-Jan-2017 on delivery to Aurora. This is the 3rd Twin Otter for Aurora, and had been parked in Switzerland since 14-Mar-2016 pending an improvement in the Russian economic climate.

Editor's Note: MSN 368 was imported to Canada in Nov-2015 by Vancouver-based Gravitas Aviation, having previously flown with the Mexican Attorney General's service. It was sold to Toronto's Guyana Goldfields Inc. in early 2016.

Monday, 16 January 2017

841 - DHC-6-300 A6-MAR H.E. Mohammed Abdul Rahim Al Ali, Dubai
Noted at Dubai-Marina Airport 06-Dec-2016 now operated by Skydive Dubai as DU-SD8. Aircraft is still in basic Transport Canada c/s and it is seen below at Athens in 2006.

Wednesday, 11 January 2017

Updating entry for 09-Jan-2017; flew Singapore-Seletar - Ambon - Port Moresby 10/11-Jan-2017 as it continues on delivery to Air Tetiaroa in Tahiti. The aircraft left Altenrhein/Saint Gallen on 03-Jan-2017.

Flew Comox, BC - Fairbanks, AK 10-Jan-2017 on delivery to RN Aircraft, where it will become RA-67297. This flight had originally been planned for 08-Jan-2017, but did not depart, and today's flight was also first filed with a destination of Anchorage, but subsequently changed to Fairbanks.

Monday, 9 January 2017

597 - DHC-6-300 8Q-TMG Trans Maldivian Airways, Male
Has been repainted featuring the colours of the Hurawalhi Reort (port side) and Kudadoo Residences Resort on the starboard. The Hurawalhi side can be seen in the photo below, with thanks to Maldivian Plane Spotters.

636 - DHC-6-300 HB-LRN Zimex Aviation, Glattbrugg
Updating entry for 03-Jan-2017; via Male 07-Jan-2016 to Singapore in Air Tetiaroa c/s. The aircraft will operate from their base at Papeete-Faa'a to the Brando Resort on the island of Tetiaroa. It is seen below at Male with thanks to Maldivian Plane Spotters.

Aurora Airlines, a Russian regional carrier from Russia’s Far East, will expand its fleet of DHC-6 Series 400 small regional turboprops to 32 aircraft, according to an announcement by the Far East Development Fund. The organization will co-finance the purchase. Aurora’s fleet growth is part of the plan to improve the passenger transportation network in the region.

The entire investment is estimated at around 23 billion rubles ($380 million), and the project has already received approval by the regional administration. The FEDF may contrinute up to 6.4 billion rubles. 51% of Aurora’s shares owned by Aeroflot Group, the remaining 49% — by the administration of Russia’s Sakhalin Region.

Aurora currently operates two 19-seat DHC-6 Series 400 Twin Otters, both purchased by the administration of Primorye Territory. In September this year a LOI for two additional aircraft was signed.

Apart from the Twin Otters Aurora operates more spacious Bombardier Q200/Q300/Q400 turboprops, as well as Airbus A319s, overall two dozen aircraft. The carrier operates both international and domestic routes, some of which are designated “socially important,” meaning they may not be commercially viable, but there is no other means of transportation between the destinations.

European Coastal Plans Resumption of Flying in 2017.

European Coastal CEO Klaus-Dieter Martin has indicated that they expect to relaunch services again in 2017.

ECA has recently announced the appointment of Zdravko Delic as its new Accountable Manager, with an eye to improving the relationship with the Croatian regulators. He will be responsible to further optimize ECA's operations in Croatia, and to liaise with the company's business partners, as well as with the CCAA.

Once operations have restarted, the airline expects to resume service to all destinations, as well as add Mali Losinj to Trieste, using their four DHC-6 aircraft.

Good luck to Klaus and his team in getting ECA back in the air once again.

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